Official press release by the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Today marks exactly one year since the end of military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh with a view to resolving the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict by force. On the night of 1 to 2 April 2016, in flagrant violation of the ceasefire, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a large-scale offensive along the entire border using heavy equipment, artillery and aviation. Only after suffering heavy losses in manpower and military equipment, on 5 April 2016, Azerbaijan was forced to ask for a cessation of hostilities with the mediation of Russia.
The April aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh, which was accompanied by numerous violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes, has become a serious challenge to regional peace and security and has caused great damage to the negotiation process for the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
During the year that has passed since the end of the hostilities on 5 April 2016, the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have been making efforts to ensure conditions for a full restoration of the negotiation process.
The Republic of Artsakh has been consistently supporting the statements of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the need for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement of 12 May 1994, practical application of the provisions of the agreement of 6 February 1995 on strengthening the ceasefire regime, as well as implementation of the agreements reached in Vienna (16 May 2016) and in St. Petersburg (20 June, 2016) on introduction of a mechanism for investigating incidents and increasing the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
Azerbaijan not only rejects these proposals, but also disrupts any initiative aimed at excluding the possibility of resumption of hostilities. Moreover, throughout this time Azerbaijan has been sparing no effort to transfer the logic of confrontation to the spheres of economy, culture and even human contacts.
While demonstrating complete unwillingness to reach a negotiated peace settlement, the Azerbaijani authorities threaten to unleash another war. By consistently increasing the tension on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan and continuing the policy of confrontation and hostility. Baku deliberately deepens the mistrust between the parties and tries to make the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict a hostage of its destructive policy and maximalist demands.
Prime Minister of Artsakh Republic (NKR) Arayik Harutyunyan have today taken part in the event organized by HALO Trust organization on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
A year ago, on the night of 1 April 2016, Azerbaijan was carrying out a massive attack across the front line of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) wishing to take the Armenian Army by surprise.
Shushi Fine Art Museum opened its doors to 2,934 visitors, including 342 foreigners last year, Director at the museum Lusine Gasparyan has told Artsakhpress agency.
Thomas De Waal, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe (specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region), on Wednesday warned of imminent escalations over Nagorno-Karabakh, calling for strong efforts towards using diplomatic and political resources in reaching a breakthrough in the long-lasting land dispute.
Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan together with President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who arrived in Artsakh on March 25, visited a range of military units of the Defense Army.
The international forum of bloggers organized by “Artsakhakertum” non-governmental organization along with Artsakh Journalists Union concluded its work in Stepanakert, Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Republic.
“Artsakhakertum” non-governmental organization along with Artsakh Journalists Union organizes an international forum of bloggers in Stepanakert, Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic) on March 19-20 with around 30 bloggers from 11 states expected to attend the event.
“For 29 years already Armenia is involved in ensuring the physical security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR/Artsakh), who has been imposed on military aggression as a response to their attempt to exercise the right to self-determination of nations,” Minister of Defense of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan noted during today’s visiting session of Valdai Discussion Club titled “Time of Change: The World in an Era of Global Unpredictability” underway in Yerevan.
If Armenia recognizes the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic, the two Armenian states will be able to embark on a unification plan sometime in the nearest future, says Giro Manoyan, the political affairs director at the ARF-D (Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun) Bureau.